Community Care Programme

Working with medical professionals and healthcare assistants, and strictly with medical approval, NARA`s ethos is to give the patients in our care the ability to lead as normal a life as possible given the respiratory condition they have to deal with on a daily basis, and support and advise their family and carers.  These respiratory conditions include apnoea episodes in very young babies and children, cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, brittle asthma, COPD and emphysema and other related conditions in all ages.  In the most acute cases, giving the patient the ability to breathe is the most basic assistance we can offer.   Fortunately, we have just a few of these patients.  In the main, assisting patients to lead a more `normal` life given their disability is where NARA excels.  Often trapped by their condition, many patients would be house bound, or confined to frequent visits to their local Hospital or Doctor`s Surgery would be the norm.   This disablement can restrict youngsters in their ability to learn and follow a regular path of education, it can restrict the employment of those of working age, and confine pensioners and the elderly to one room in their home.  These respiratory conditions not only affect the patient alone, but also their immediate family and carers alike.

NARA`s aim is to provide the most effective medical equipment into the home to allow these patients to improve their quality of life and help both the patient, their families and carers do those things most of us take for granted.

For parents of a baby or youngster with apnoea it can be a good night sleep, knowing an alarm will sound if their baby or child stops breathing.  For older children suffering from a respiratory condition, the provision of a small, silent and effective nebuliser which can be carried in a school bag and utilised when necessary can give them the freedom of a normal school life and education.  For those of a working age, the provision of portable medical equipment to assist their condition can allow part-time if not full-time employment, and for the elderly the provision of portable equipment allows the patient freedom of movement to go to the shops, or lead a more social life in their retirement.  In all cases, the families and carers of our patients can also have the benefit of a less restricted and more sociable life too.

NARA regularly visits patients to ensure the equipment provided is in full and efficient working order.   During the coming months, NARA is to add to this by holding regular `Meet NARA` days, located in venues across the UK, where patients, supporters, healthcare professionals and all who wish can get together for a coffee and a chat to see exactly who we are and what we do.